SEO keywords are the cornerstone of any online marketing strategy. When you want to position yourself as the go-to expert and authority you want to know first what niche to dominate, which keywords help you to compete with and to pass your competitors. Using the perfect SEO keywords means you are found what you want to be known for. Your products and services fulfill your target market’s needs. They are wiling to give you at least their name and email address for your free offer. In the perfect case scenario, they are ready to work with you and buy from you.

Before we go into details of what SEO keyword types you want to look for to position yourself as authority in your perfect niche, let’s first get this out of the way. What are SEO keywords, really?

What are Keywords in SEO?

They are like a real key you open your front door or your car door with. Keywords help others, the external search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo, or Ask, the internal search engines in a social media network, and the human browsers, to find valuable content. Content you have on your site, content you share in social media, your guest blogs, your slide shows, your images, your videos, your podcasts, and so much more.

Using keywords as part of your search engine optimization strategy opens the “door” for others who are looking for

a topic you wrote about,

your local service,

your services and products

an answer you provided in the forums, through blog posts, videos, or podcasts,

an industry related social media post.

I think you get it.

SEO keywords are your “breadcrumbs” (I love German fairy tales like Hansel and Gretel). They are your bait where you can provide value and “catch” your ideal client with.

In case you aren’t clear about search engine optimization, check out this blog post about What is SEO.

Everything You Want To Know About SEO Keywords And How To Use Them

Not all keywords are the same. There are low end keywords and highly valuable keywords. There are keywords you would use for a website’s focus, to position yourself in a niche, to create a blog post about, or as focus keyword in your SEO page analysis tool.

So, what SEO keywords are important when you want to position yourself as go-to expert or authority in a niche that makes you money and helps you to make a difference in the world?

Niche Keyword

Let’s use the example of the “door opener” again. There are keys that open an office complex and there are keys that open the door of an office in an office complex.

A niche keyword is an SEO keyword that opens the front door of an office complex.

When you think of your niche keyword, think of it as big or as small as you can dominate a niche realistically.

An example would be a business coach who is an expert in sales. Perhaps she or he thinks, “Mmh, I want to dominate the sales niche”.

The keyword “sales” has a monthly search demand of 49,500. This means 49,500 people include the word “sales” in their search queries. It sounds like a great number but … nobody uses the word “sales” as a search query alone. It is part of a search query. It is smarter, easier to dominate and position yourself as an authority, if you go one step deeper, define your niche more and choose as your niche keyword something that clearly says what you offer like sales training, sales techniques, or sales coaching.

Focus Keyword

Your focus keyword is the keyword you type into an SEO plugin like Yoast. It helps the SEO page analysis to guide you if you did a good job or what you can improve. The focus keyword is the hint you give the SEO analysis tool.

Don’t assume because it took it that it automatically means there is a search demand for.

You first need to do your keyword research BEFORE you add it as the focus keyword.

Learn About The Four SEO Keyword Types

Not all SEO keywords have the same value. There are keywords that will attract the researchers, others the price and price shoppers, or the buyers. Learn more about the different keyword types and when to use which one below.

Keyword Type #1: Informational Keywords

Informational keywords or informational search queries are words human browsers and online searchers use to find information. They are often times the

“how-to” words

“what is”

They often have a lower search demand and lower competition.

Most researchers who use this type of keywords know what topic they are looking for but don’t know which websites will come up as search results. They are not ready to buy but, if it is the right niche market, willing to sign up for your free, irresistible offer.

Keyword Type #2: Navigational Keywords

Online searchers use navigational keywords or navigational search queries when they type a company or brand name like “coca cola” in a search engine’s search bar. They are familiar with the company or brand.

Keyword Type #3: Transactional Keywords

Transactional keywords or transactional search queries are used when people look for a product or service. They often times already made a buying decision and finished their research or price/product shopping. Typical keywords are:

buy

subscribe

for sale

or an exact described service or product, including feature or pricing expectations.

Keyword Type #4: Commercial Keywords

Commercial keywords or commercial search queries vary depending on the industry or niche. They indicate that the human browser and online searcher is contemplating to buy. They have their credit card ready but want to see first what products and services are available.

For example, commercial keywords for the hosting industry would be:

web hosting proposals

web hosting reviews

web hosting discounts

To determine if a keyword is commercial or not, just type the keyword into Google’ search bar and look at the SERPs (search engine results pages) that come up. Are results indicating product or service purchases, do you see paid advertising, or does it sound you mostly gain information Then make an educated decision.

Head Keywords And Long Tail Keywords

Head Keywords

Head keywords are

short keywords,

mostly 1-2 word combinations,

used for content pages, or blog categories

Long Tail Keywords

Long tail keywords are

long keywords,

mostly 2-5 words,

used for blog posts, video posts, eproducts, or ebooks.

How To Find Long Tail Keywords

Finding long tail keywords is not as difficult as it may sound. Type words into Google’s search bar and look what search term suggestions Google provides. Check out this suggestion by typing it into Google’s keyword planner or use a head keyword and search for it. Look at the keyword results that have more than 2-3 words.

Long Tail Keywords Examples

Long tail keywords examples are:

best wordpress plugin

how to bake a cake

what is a good credit score

Conclusion

You can see, finding and using the best keywords to position yourself as an authority in your perfect niche requires a plan. Making money and making a difference with what you do, that’s your end goal. You can get there by using SEO keywords that strengthen your online focus means making a conscious decision about the niche keyword (or niche keywords if you choose more than one) you and your website want to be known for. Then adding a mix of informational, transactional and commercial keywords to your site structure blueprint. So you attract researchers who will sign up for your irresistible offer. Shoppers interested to check out your products and services. And buyers who trust you and ready to buy from you.

Are you ready to start this journey of making money and making a difference in the world by finding the best SEO keywords to reach your online goals?